Natural Heritage of the Peloncillo Mountain Region San Bernardino Valley, Bob Van Deven 2005 A Synthesis of Science Report Editors Gitanjali Bodner, Ph.D., Biologist and Conservation Planner, Sky Island Alliance (Tucson, Arizona) Jennifer Atchley Montoya, Senior Program Officer, World Wildlife Fund, Chihuahuan Desert Program (Las Cruces, New Mexico) Roseann Hanson, Conservation Communications Consultant, former Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance and Program Director for Sonoran Institute (Tucson, Arizona) Walt Anderson, MS., Professor of Environmental Studies, Prescott College (Prescott, Arizona) Chapter Authors – Section Two Gitanjali Bodner, Ph.D. Chapter 2.5 (invertebrates). Biologist and Conservation Planner, Sky Island Alliance. Trained in systematics and biodiversity assessment of hyperdiverse invertebrate groups, Gita applies a range of research approaches to compiling place-based knowledge and filling data gaps. Charles Curtin, Ph.D. Chapter 2.6 (mammals). Conservation Biologist, Arid Lands Project and Malpai Borderlands Group. Founder of the nonprofit research institute Arid Lands Project, which conducts landscape-level experimental studies of the interaction of human and natural systems, Charles has coordinated a science program to support the efforts of the Malpai Borderlands Group. Jonathan M. Hanson. Chapter 2.3 (fishes). Ecologist and Naturalist. Jonathan is the author of more than a dozen books on nature and outdoor subjects, including the award-winning 50 Common Reptiles and Amphibians of the Southeast and Southern Arizona Nature Almanac. Charles W. Painter. Chapter 2.4 (reptiles and amphibians). Herpetologist, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Endangered Species Program. Charles has worked in New Mexico herpetology since 1976 and is coauthor of Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. His current research includes conservation biology of the New Mexico ridge-nosed rattlesnake, sand dune lizard, and Jemez Mountains salamander. Peter Warshall, Ph.D. Chapter 2.1 (ecosystem dynamics). Ecologist and Anthropologist. A long- time conservationist and scientist, Peter works with community organizations on natural resource issues, especially those pertaining to water and wildlife. He also is a consultant, editor, writer, and desert rat with a love of Sky Islands. Thomas Wood. Chapter 2.2 (birds). Ornithologist, Southeast Arizona Bird Observatory. Tom is cofounder of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, a nonprofit conservation organization. Richard D. Worthington, Ph.D. Chapter 2.7 (vegetation). Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso. Richard is curator of the UTEP herbarium, which is part of the Centennial Museum. His research specialty is floristics of mountain masses in the Southwest. 1 Acknowledgements Sky Island Alliance and the World Wildlife Fund would like to thank Kim Vacariu and the Wildlands Project for their assistance in putting the Peloncillo Experts Workshop together and participating in it. We would like to thank all the participants of the Peloncillo Experts Workshop for devoting their time and knowledge; the principle authors, and the following people who also contributed expertise and assistance during the preparation of this document: Regional knowledge: Ben Brown, Western Ecosystems Consulting, Animas, NM; Teri Neville and Esteban Muldavin, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program; Bill Radke and Nina King, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge; Bob and Katie Scholes, Bioresearch Ranch, Peloncillo Mountains; Tom Wooten, T&E Inc., Tucson AZ. Geology: Rob Hunt, Prescott College. Plants: Will Moir, USDA Forest Service; Teri Neville and Esteban Muldavin, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program. Vertebrates: Amphibians and reptiles: Dale Turner, The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. Birds: Narca Moore-Craig, Portal, AZ; CD Littlefield, Bioresearch Ranch, Peloncillo Mountains. Fishes: Dean Hendrickson, University of Texas at Austin; Robert Minckley, University of Rochester; Peter Unmack, Arizona State University. Mammals: Jennifer Fry, University of New Mexico; Narca Moore-Craig, Portal, AZ. Invertebrates: General reviews: Carl Olson, University of Arizona; Steve Prchal, Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute; David Richman, New Mexico State University; Barney R. Tomberlin, Hatari Invertebrates. Insects: Hymenoptera: Stefan Cover, Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology; Bob Chew, Portal AZ; William MacKay, University of Texas at El Paso; Donald Manley, Clemson University; Robert Minckley, University of Rochester. Coleoptera: Bob Acciavatti, USDA Forest Service; Barry Knisley, Randolph-Macon College; David Pearson, Arizona State University; Odonata: Sandy Upson, Bisbee, AZ; Bill Radke, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge. Orthoptera: Dave Lightfoot, University of New Mexico. Lepidoptera: Greg Forbes, New Mexico State University; Steve Carey, New Mexico State Parks. Arachnids: David Richman, New Mexico State University; David Sissom, West Texas A&M. Crustaceans: Brian Lang, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; D. Christopher Rogers, EcoAnalysts Inc. Mollusks: Artie Metcalf, University of Texas at El Paso; Richard Worthington, University of Texas at El Paso. 2 Workshop Participants Willcox, AZ February 4-5, 2003 Gita Bodner Kelley O'Neal Sky Island Alliance University of Arizona Charles Curtin David Parsons Arid Lands Project Parsons Biological Consulting Matt Goode Charles Painter University of Arizona New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Trevor Hare David Richman Sky Island Alliance New Mexico State University Gary Helbing Helen Snyder Coronado National Forest Portal, Arizona Andrew Holycross Noel Snyder Arizona State University Portal Arizona Rurik List Dale Turner Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México The Nature Conservancy of Arizona Carlos López González Kim Vacariu Northern Jaguar Project Wildlands Project Robert Minckley Peter Warren University of Rochester The Nature Conservancy of Arizona Will Moir Peter Warshall USDA Forest Service Whole Earth Review Richard Worthington Tom Wood University of Texas at El Paso SoutheasternArizonaBirdObservatory Funding (Workshop and Report) J. M. Kaplan Fund Sky Island Alliance T&E Incorporated Wilburforce Foundation Wildlands Project World Wildlife Fund 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary Section 1 The Chihuahuan Desert and a Framework for Conservation in the Peloncillo Region 1.1 A Global Biodiversity Priority: The Chihuahuan Desert………………………………...11 1.2 The Peloncillo Region: A Gem of Biodiversity in the Northwest Chihuahuan Desert….16 1.3 Gathering Knowledge and Setting a Framework for Conservation……………………...30 Section 2 Systems and Species of the Peloncillo Region 2.1 Earth Forces and Living Systems in the Peloncillo Region……………………………...37 2.2 Birds of the Peloncillo Region: Globally Significant Biologically & Recreationally…...61 2.3 Fishes of the Peloncillo Region: Rarity and Endemism in an Arid Region……………..72 2.4 Herpetofauna of the Peloncillo Region: Legendary Diversity & Specific Threats……...82 2.5 Invertebrates of the Peloncillo Region: Richness and Mystery………………………….96 2.6 Mammals of the Peloncillo Region: Bridging the Tropical and Temperate……………140 2.7 Vegetation of the Peloncillo Region: High-Diversity Crossroads……………………...157 Section 3 Appendices – attached as CD Appendix A: Workshop Methods: Forms Appendix B: Flora of the Peloncillo Mountains, Sierra San Luis, and Lordsburg Playas Appendix C: Birds of the Peloncillo Region Appendix D: Reptiles and Amphibians of the Peloncillo Region Appendix E: Mammals of Hidalgo County, New Mexico Appendix F: Fish Collection Records in the Peloncillo Region Appendix G: Selected Invertebrates of the Peloncillo Region Appendix H: Sensitive Species of the Peloncillo Region Appendix I: Workshop Discussion: Preliminary Analysis, Five-S Framework for Site Conservation 4 Natural Heritage of the Peloncillos Executive Summary: Significance & Conservation Value of the Peloncillo Region Introduction: A Rare and Wonderful Place The Peloncillo region and its ranges, connecting valleys, and drainages encompass a landscape that includes an international border and the boundaries between four states: Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico. But political boundaries are not all that meet here. The Peloncillo region also overlies the unique juncture of six major biological provinces and numerous discrete habitat types. The result is one of the most diverse and productive natural areas in North America, a refugium for dozens of threatened and endangered species, and a vital corridor for wildlife movement and migration. Yet it is an area that is underappreciated, understudied, and in need of protection and stewardship to maintain both its natural and its cultural values. Realizing the conservation potential of the Peloncillo region, and the threats it might face, in 2003 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Sky Island Alliance (SIA), and other partners cosponsored a workshop at which a group of experts evaluated the existing knowledge—and gaps in that knowledge—pertaining to the Peloncillos. The region was categorized as very high in herpetofauna, bird, invertebrate, and plant diversity, as well as significant in endemism and rare species. The greater Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion has been identified as globally outstanding in its biological distinctiveness, most notably in a conservation assessment published by WWF in 1999. Clearly, further study was called for, and the seeds of this report were sown. For the purposes of the workshop and future